PRINT 01, Chicago, Illinois – September 6, 2001 –Agfa announced that for the first six months of 2001 its computer-to-plate revenue grew by more than 60 percent as compared to the first six months of 2000. Specifically, hardware sales grew by more than 80 percent, while its digital plate revenues grew at 60 percent. "These increases reflect Agfa’s continued growth and success in the computer-to-plate market," said Dave Costa, Agfa’s vice president of marketing for computer-to-plate systems. "These increases reflect the strong acceptance of our new violet imaging technology and the increased adoption of computer-to-plate workflows by printers." Increased Revenues. Based on these first-half results, Agfa projects that its total computer-to-plate sales– including hardware, software, service and support, and digital plates – will reach 500 million Euros in 2001 – up over 60% percent from 2000. "We offer the widest selection of integrated computer-to-plate solutions in the world, including visible light, thermal and photopolymer technology" said Costa. "This allows us to provide customers with the solution that is right for their specific requirements." Increased Sales Reflect Success Of Violet-Laser Computer-To-Plate Systems. Agfa attributes these revenue increases to three key factors: • Strong growth of Galileo sales worldwide due to strong sales of Galileo VS and VXT – Agfa’s family of violet-laser imaging platesetters – and its Lithostar LAP-V violet-imaging (410 nm) digital plate • Continued strong sales of Polaris, Agfa’s family of platesetters for newspaper operations, and the N91A photopolymer aluminum plate • Fast ramp-up of sales for Xcalibur VLF, Agfa’s very large format platesetter "Our early leadership in violet-laser imaging makes Agfa a compelling choice for computer-to-plate," said Piet Cottenie, senior vice president, worldwide sales and marketing. "While others are just introducing violet-laser systems, we have a proven solution – Galileo VS and VXT – with more than 350 systems installed worldwide. These systems offer significant advantages to printers, including fast imaging speeds, low cost of ownership, full automation, and high quality." Major Performance Advantage of Violet. "Clearly, printers have responded to the performance advantages offered by violet-laser imaging," said Cottenie. "In an era when efficiency is a business imperative, our Galileo violet-laser imaging systems deliver productivity gains." With the Galileo VS, printers can output 17 40.5 inch (1030 mm) plates per hour at 2,400 dpi. The high-speed Galileo VXT provides even faster performance, outputting 22 40.5 inch (1030mm) plates per hour at 2,400 dpi. An Integrated Solution. Agfa stresses its unique advantage of having a plate manufacturing system developed to optimize both plates and the systems that image them. The Galileo VS and Galileo VXT are engineered for use with Agfa's industry-leading Lithostar LAP-V digital plate, a high-speed aluminum plate based on Agfa's proven silver halide technology. Lithostar LAP-V is an ultra-sensitive plate that precisely matches the 410 nm exposure wavelength of the Galileo VS and Galileo VXT. "Lithostar LAP-V provides excellent, predictable performance on press," said Theo De Keersmaecker, worldwide director of marketing for digital plates. "Our customers benefit from the accuracy and reliability of a computer-to-plate solution designed from the start with the quality of the final plate in mind. This is a major competitive advantage over other systems." Expanding The Market For Violet-Laser Imaging. At PRINT 01 in Chicago, Agfa is also introducing Agfa Palladio, a new flatbed violet-laser computer-to-plate solution in a 4-up (B2) format. "With Palladio, we’re extending our market coverage even further by offering an entry-level solution that’s right for printers with 4-up presses, ” says Costa. “With Palladio, we will bring all the benefits of violet imaging down market, where more printers will have the opportunity to exploit its benefits.” A Complete Solution For CTP Environments. “Computer-to-plate is not just a product it is a workflow,” said Cottenie referring to the company’s broad product line.” Agfa offers customers a smooth transition to a completely digital workflow by including workflow software, screening, digital proofing and support as well as the imaging system.